Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Monday called for an end to public debates and disagreements over the presidential election results after the Constitutional Court issued a "final and binding verdict" confirming Prabowo Subianto as the election winner.
The president, whose son Gibran Rakabuming Raka is the running mate of Prabowo, said it's time for the country to move on and maintain national unity amid the escalating geopolitical tension globally.
He said his government has begun to prepare for a smooth transition of power to the next leader.
"We are working on the transition from the current government to the next because the Constitutional Court has delivered the verdict and what is left is the formal announcement by the General Election Commission tomorrow," Jokowi said during a visit to Mamuju regency, West Sulawesi.
The Constitutional Court on Monday confirmed Prabowo as the winner of the Feb. 14 presidential election by rejecting a motion by two defeated candidates who sought to annul the result and demand a revote.
In separate verdict hearings, the justices rejected the motion by Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo in 5-3 rulings, citing a lack of legal grounds and convincing evidence.
Anies and Ganjar accused President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo of election interference by allowing his son to become a ticket mate for Prabowo and intensifying government social aid to sway voters for the pair.
They also alleged favoritism because Gibran was made eligible as the vice-presidential candidate only after the Constitutional Court amended the minimum age requirement in an October hearing presided over by then Chief Justice Anwar Usman, who is also Gibran's uncle.
Chief Justice Suhartoyo and four justices said the accusations weren't supported by convincing evidence and competent witnesses. Suhartoyo said the motion was "denied in its entirety".